Felton awarded two-year extension, raise

Dennis Felton inherited a Georgia basketball program four years ago that resembled Humpty Dumpty following his inopportune tumble.

As it turns out, Georgia's athletic association was willing to grant its men's basketball coach more time to prove that he can keep putting the program's pieces back together.

The athletic association tacked on two additional years to Felton's five-year contract Wednesday during a closed executive session via conference call, extending his deal through the 2010-2011 season. The association also gave Felton a raise worth $50,000 per year.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to be at Georgia longer," Felton said. "So many people, coaches, have gotten into the habit of looking at Georgia as a stomping ground and looking to move on. I've always really insisted that I want to be here."

Felton's existing contract, which he signed after a year and half on the job in August 2004, called for him to make as much as $700,000 per year, which included base pay from the university, moneys from radio and television appearances and endorsement deals. His restructured contract is worth about $760,000 per year but still leaves him in the bottom third of the pay scale for head coaches in the SEC.

Felton took over the Bulldogs during their darkest period. He replaced Jim Harrick following a scandalous period that resulted in NCAA sanctions. Following a 16-14 record his first year in 2003-04, Felton's Bulldogs suffered through Georgia's worst season in 35 years with an 8-20 record. His team showed steady improvement the next two years, going 15-15 in 2005-06 and 19-14 this past season when the Bulldogs won a game at the SEC Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NIT.

Felton's record in four years is 58-62 overall and 21-43 in SEC play. He has a combined record of 9-24 against eastern division powers Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Four of those wins came in his first season.

Georgia athletic director Damon Evans, who met with Felton this past Friday to talk about the extension, said he felt giving Felton more time and a pay hike was the proper thing to do.

"With the situation we were in, with regards to probation, we knew it was a rebuilding process and one that would take some time," Evans said. "I tried to look at everything in totality: Are we in a good place and are we still moving forward?

"Under Coach Felton, we're still moving forward, and that showed in our record this year. Our goal is for continuous improvement."

Steady success also elevates expectations, which translates into Georgia garnering an NCAA Tournament berth sooner rather than later. Felton said the pressure is nothing new.

"I can't imagine the pressure being more intense than it always is," he said. "It's the nature of the industry when everything that you do is scrutinized the way it is by so many people."

Felton, who denied having contact with any other programs as had been broadcast earlier in the day, said he wasn't worried about receiving more time. In fact, he scheduled Friday's meeting with Evans to discuss matters unrelated to his contract.

"He just took advantage of the opportunity when we were together to tell me what he wanted to do, and I said, 'Great,'" Felton said.

Felton returns four of his five starters in 2007-08, along with touted freshmen Zac Swansey, Jeremy Price, Chris Barnes and Jeremy Jacob.

"I guess they think he's doing a good job," rising senior point guard Sundiata Gaines said before Felton met with his team Wednesday evening. "They think he's turned around the program tremendously. (The extension) should make the guys coming in feel more secure."